Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
BORDEN – Friday’s ribbon-cutting for the Borden section of the Monon South Trail was a true community celebration. The Borden Pep Band was on hand playing upbeat tunes and about 200 students from Borden High School attended, bringing the total attendance to about 300 people.
The event marked the completion of 5.5 miles of trail, connecting Borden to Deam Lake Recreation Area.
Last July, many of the same people celebrated the groundbreaking for the Monon South Trail. Those gathered Friday remarked at how much the trail is already changing the landscape and the communities along the trail.
“This opens a corridor for us that’s unique and that’s why we’re so excited about it,” said Steve Williams, Borden Town Council president.
Williams said after the rail was abandoned in 2009, the rail line became overgrown, unattractive and was a reminder of what used to be when an active rail line brought commerce and passengers to town.
“Over the past year and a half we’ve had a front row seat to see the transformation of this rail passageway from abandoned railway to a renewed space for recreation and a connector to other communities,” Williams said. “The Monon South Trail brings a new vein of life to our small town … and it will connect our town and the school to the park, creating a safe corridor.”
The ribbon-cutting took place outside Borden Town Hall and across from the historic Borden Bank, which will be renovated for use as a trailhead, thanks to a $250,000 grant Radius Indiana, MST developer, was awarded by SoIN Tourism, a Clark-Floyd county tourism organization.
Following the ribbon-cutting, walkers and bicyclists, many of them members of Southern Indiana Wheelmen, hopped on the trail.
Bob Hall, Leanne Hall and Rober Bottorff traveled from Henryville to ride the trail on their recumbent bikes.
“We came to support the trail,” Bottorff said.
The group rides three to four times a week and looks forward to when the trail is complete.
“I’ll go 60 miles when it’s all hooked up,” Bottorff said.
Borden is the third section of trail to open to the public as part of Phase 1 construction. Mitchell and Orleans opened previously. Phase 1 will complete about 20 miles of trail. The New Pekin section should be completed in June.
When the entire trail is finished, the Monon South Tail will span from Mitchell to the Clark/Floyd County border. New Albany is one one of eight cities and towns that the trail will pass through.
“This is what happens when communities come together with shared purpose, shared vision,” said New Albany Mayor Jeff Gahan.
Gahan said the city will open bids this month on the south section of the trail and construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in June. Construction on the north section is tentatively set for March 2026.
Maddy Conner, chief of staff for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, said the trail stretching to Deam Lake State Recreation Area, provides another outdoor recreation option for visitors.
“DNR is proud to be just one of the incredible partners who came together to turn a vision for the Monon South into a reality,” Conner said.
DNR provided funds to acquire the trail, which received $29.5 million in Next Level Trails funding for initial construction. Next Level Trails has provided $180 million in funding for 89 trail projects across Indiana.
The completed trail will be the longest recreational trail in Indiana; 440,000 Hoosiers live within 10 miles of the trail’s path.
Borden resident Les Wright, who is also a member of the Friends of Borden Park, was among those in attendance.
“Originally, I had mixed feelings about it,” Wright said. “But I’ve already seen that it’s going to be a positive for Borden. I think we’ll have more visitors to our park, and not by automobile, but by walking and by bicycles. I don’t see any negatives about it.”
Other speakers included SoIN Tourism Executive Director Jim Epperson and Duke Energy Government and Community Relations Manager Lisa Brones Huber.
